"...I GIVE To You."

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!â€� 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.â€� 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 3:1-10

Just earlier this week, as I was on a plane to Florida {one of my favorite places!}, I was led to read Acts chapter 3. As soon as I turned there I smiled- “silver & gold I do not have, BUT what I DO have I GIVE to you.” How beautiful is that? It “hit” me– you know, like an “ah-ha!” moment.

So often we focus on what we do NOT have. We focus on our lack, our unmet desires, our neediness, the “cracks” in our lives, while missing what we actually already have in our possession. I’ve been there so many times! And every time I need a SHIFT of focus.

What we focus on we empower. This is why Peter & John walked in such authority and power- they focused on what they DID have- the Kingdom of the LIVING God dwelling inside of them!

This story about Peter & John is nothing radical, it was simply their lifestyle. Their walk up to the temple was nothing out of the ordinary, it was part of their regular routine. And truthfully, if you read the stories in the Bible you see that much of their lives was simply spent seeing ordinary, everyday moments turned extraordinary.

How? Simply because they had a constant awareness of God’s Kingdom not only dwelling inside them, but understood the natural “outflow” of Heaven from their lives. They understood the concept of being “ambassadors of Christ” {2 Corinthians 5:20}; they knew that God’s LOVE & POWER was simply the outflow of their everyday encounters.

ALL of us have something to GIVE. It may not always “look” like much to our natural eye {and sometimes it may!}, but I guarantee that your smile, kindness, words of HOPE, LIFE & LOVE can radically transform lives around you. If we will tap into the Kingdom of Heaven that already dwells on the INSIDE of us {Luke 17:21} imagine how different the world would look around us.

Jesus shared an incredible prayer with us: “Your will be done, on earth AS IT IS in Heaven”. And He’s chosen US to be Kingdom releasers- those who give away the love, peace, forgiveness & grace we, ourselves, have received.

What do you have that you can give away today? How are you going to give it away? We ALL have the ability to transform lives around us- everyday.

The more consistently we live this way the more LIGHT will be released into the darkest places on earth. How exciting is that?!

Let’s change our focus today from what we don’t have to what we DO have.

Let’s empower the Kingdom of Heaven that already dwells inside of us, today…here & NOW.

Heaven on earth. #Yessssss.

Imagine the many lame, broken, hurting, dying people around you & then GO! GIVE away what you already have to them.

It’s IN YOU. He’s IN YOU.

LOVE can transform our culture, our nation, the nations of the earth– in a moment.

Let’s go 🙂

Ps. We’d love for you to share your “Kingdom releasing” moments with us! Share away 🙂